IFM: Series Valencia afternoon test notes 2009-03-01

LEIMER FASTEST OVERALL ON FIRST OFFICIAL 2009 TEST DAY
2008 Formula Master Vice-Champion, Fabio Leimer, set the fastest lap time
in Valencia, Spain, today for the Series' first official 2009 test day,
with a best lap of 1:26.585.
Returning to...

LEIMER FASTEST OVERALL ON FIRST OFFICIAL 2009 TEST DAY

2008 Formula Master Vice-Champion, Fabio Leimer, set the fastest lap time
in Valencia, Spain, today for the Series' first official 2009 test day,
with a best lap of 1:26.585.

Returning to the Series with Jenzer Motorsport, Leimer posted the fastest
overall time 0.64 seconds ahead of Erik Janis' best lap of 1:27.234 for
ISR. Today saw three different teams claim the top three times with JD
Motorsport's Josef Kral posting a third fastest lap of 1:27.384, which
was also this morning's best lap.

Today marked the first Formula Master single-seater outing with 2009
update kits, sporting new engine covers and redesigned rear wings as well
as air brake ducts and new exhaust systems
4-2-1 combined with new engine software.

Several new drivers took to the track today, including Henry Surtees, son
of legendary British Formula 1 driver John Surtees, with Team JVA,
alongside team-mate Zoel Amberg. Italian Patrick Reiterer also took part
for Iris Project.

Surtees posted the longest distance for the day, completing a total of
111 laps, and contributing significantly to the drivers' overall lap
total. Testing resumes tomorrow for the second of this week's two-day
test in Valencia.

Fabio Leimer, Jenzer Motorsport

"The 2009 update gives a very good step up to power in low and mid revs.
It makes it easier to go round in slow corners. I got a good feeling from
the car; it's funny to drive and more of a challenge. There's no big
difference in higher revs but on short ratios, you feel the power more.
The car is more difficult to drive now so it will make a bigger
difference between drivers."